Joe Courtney

Where we were all home and had a chance to sort of see firsthand what is going on in terms of the labor market.

Regrettably, once again we find ourselves in a precarious situation with some in the majority threatening to hold our economy hostage.

The problem of economic stagnation in America, is the extreme concentration of greed and wealth in this country, not immigration.

This hearing will focus on issues related to immigration and border security, both of which are outside the subcommittee's jurisdiction.

The kink in the garden hose in terms of the immigration system actually is the asylum process, which we have underfunded.

Not for nothing, I mean border security would be impacted with a government shutdown.

If we really want to do something important for American workers, we should do our job.

I think Mr. Holtz-Eakin was around for a couple of those rodeos as well.

In eastern Connecticut, where again because of the Biden budgets for Navy ship building, we had last Friday, we reached the 4,000 mark for the first 8 months of 2023.

We did it very carefully to avoid that dynamic, which in the past has always been how you pay for it.

This gets us off this train of interest. It does not excuse, it is not loan forgiveness.

Well today, myself and Senator Peter Welch in the Senate, are introducing the Interest Elimination, Student Loan Interest Elimination Act.

It is incumbent, I believe for us, to act as a congress, and certainly this Committee has an essential role to doing that.

We are right now on the brink of a cliff. Starting on October 1, despite all of the talk about President Biden's--it was only a partial loan forgiveness measure.

I have been on it for a while, and I was around in 2007 when the College Cost Reduction Act, a bipartisan bill that was signed into law by President Bush was signed, that cut the interest rate from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over a 5-year…

My Democratic colleagues and I believe that we do not have to choose between a robust economy and one that affords workers basic dignity and respect.

My Democratic colleagues and I strongly oppose this cut to the Wage and Hour's Division's budget, and anyone who is legitimately concerned about Wage and Hour's ability to conduct their vital mission should be as well.

It is time to face the facts. Without strong safeguards in place, workers will continue to be vulnerable to misclassification, to wage theft, and other violations of their rights that wind up costing working families and all taxpayers…

Our Republican colleagues may be quick to attack the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, but the most dangerous proposals for our economy are the ones coming from extreme MAGA Republicans who want to turn back the clock and…

This historic economic growth is no accident. It is the result of congressional Democrats' and President Biden's smart policy choices to support both workers and businesses.

Again, really quickly, I would just note that this builds on an amendment which was adopted in last year's NDAA to establish a partnership between the DOD and Ukraine. Again, that is still sort of working its way through the system. Again…

May I inquire as to the time remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Connecticut has 30 seconds remaining.

I claim the time in opposition to this amendment. The Acting CHAIR (Mrs. Spartz). The gentleman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 minutes.

Profit over patriotism, profit over love of country, and profit over love of freedom.

If the Biden administration will do nothing about it, we have a Republican party in Congress, I promise we will.